Nuneaton and Bedworth

Nuneaton and Bedworth's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in religion, marriage and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 130,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Nuneaton and Bedworth increased by 5.1%, from just over 119,000 to 125,000.

The addition of just over 6,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Nuneaton and Bedworth was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Nuneaton and Bedworth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Nuneaton and Bedworth increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 12% of people in Nuneaton and Bedworth are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Nuneaton and Bedworth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Nuneaton and Bedworth

The number of people in Nuneaton and Bedworth that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 14,000 in 2001 to just over 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 24% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Nuneaton and Bedworth that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 92,000 in 2001 to about 80,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 8,800 to just under 7,600 (from 7.4% to 6.1%).

Just under 2,900 people (1.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,900 in 2001 (2.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Nuneaton and Bedworth increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Nuneaton and Bedworth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

This area saw the West Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

Across the region, only Worcester (from 51% to 45%) and Cannock Chase (from 56% to 50%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 48%.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over in Nuneaton and Bedworth said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 25% to 31%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Nuneaton and Bedworth

The number of people in Nuneaton and Bedworth from the White ethnic groups remained close to 110,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 95% to 91%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Nuneaton and Bedworth from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 4,700 in 2001 to just under 7,900 in 2011 (from 4.0% to 6.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 730 to just under 1,400 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

Just over 1,000 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 330 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Nuneaton and Bedworth decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Nuneaton and Bedworth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Nuneaton and Bedworth residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.8% to 6.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Nuneaton and Bedworth residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Nuneaton and Bedworth decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Nuneaton and Bedworth, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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